/r/socialengineering is a subreddit dedicated to the art & science of human manipulation & social hacking, as well as public relations at an individual level.

We appreciate any content on social interaction, however occasionally some content requires a basic explanation, as such any links that are posted should be accompanied by a comment with a bit of written context explaining why you think it belongs here.

RULES:

1: Be respectful of each other.

2: No malicious attempts at social engineering other members of the community.

3: No nay saying, if you don't like something down vote and move on, unless you have some constructive input.

4: Don't abuse the report system just because you disagree with something.

5: No poaching/recruiting users for off site forums that use a VIP pay wall donation system.

6: No x-posting content to Social justice warrior/white knight subs like SRS to encourage internal down vote brigading.

7: All Staff should be neutral and unbiased, If they personally have an issue with a member of the community it should be taken up with a neutral 3rd party preferably a another moderator where possible.

8: Community moderation is a position of responsibility not power, all moderators will be held accountable for their actions.

9: The point of this sub is learning and while we discuss ethically questionable actions, it is for discussion and learnings sake. Though people are wholly responsible for their own actions, we ask for the sake of staff stress that any legally questionable actions be discussed in the hypothetical.

0: Do NOT post personally-identifiable information at all, including addresses, phone numbers, or credentials such as badges or IDs.

For me, the easiest thing is to see it in the eyes. If people are genuinely interested in what you are talking about or doing, then the eyes to me are the easiest projector. What are they looking at? Do they seem distracted? Do you feel like they are looking at you or through/past you? It's also how well they listen when you're talking to them and how they interact with you while talking.

Attraction is a little bit of a different story. I'm not as good with this, but from what I know, the best way to tell if someone is attracted to you, physically or intellectually (which is much different from physical), then they tend to mimic your stance and expressions. Their pupils also generally dilate.

Socially pressuring, socially forcing, people like that makes you no better than someone who uses traditional violent force.

Uh, no. Not even remotely true. Saying something that overtly expresses attraction, like "you have beautiful eyes", is in no way the same thing as any form of violent force. It's just not. Being direct and overt in no way makes you "no better than" someone who physically abuses people. There are many ways to communicate, and while you may prefer one to another, to make that sort of judgement about someone for simply differing in their method of communication is outlandish, naive, and socially xenophobic.

Social forcing happens all the time. You wouldn't have any form of society if people did not feel compelled to abide by social norms. The whole idea of social engineering presupposes that there are social constraints which can be engineered around.

You may find some forms of manipulation particularly distasteful, but there's a level of condemnation in your post that I don't think is wholly appropriate. When I say, "You have to come to the party, everyone is going to be there", I'm applying social pressure by implying that if the person doesn't come, they will be viewed as an outcast. This sort of appeal is generally regarded to be benign. Pressure happens; it's all a matter of degree.